Convertible cartridge for contact printing and photographic paper dispensing



p 18, 5- a E HARPER 84,

CONVERTIBLE CARTRIME FOR CONTACT PRINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER DISPENSING Filed Nov. so, 1945 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 Iriventor alwnvcz L ///712p2 V B] 52 .,z

Sept. 18, 1945. 2,384,911

CONVERTIBLE CARTRIDGE FOR CONTACT PRINTING AND 3 Sheets$heet 2 HARPER PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER DISPENSING Filed Nov. so, 1945 2,3a4,911 ND 7 Sept. 18, 1945. c. E. HARPER CONVERTIBLE CARTRIDGE FOR CONTACT PRINTING-A PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER DISPENSING Filed Nov. 30, 1943 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 F I Inventor Cbmueffbf/m zp Patented Sept. 18, 1945 CONVERTIBLE CARTRIDGE FOR CONTACT PRINTING AND PHOTOGRAPHIC PAPER DISPENSING Clarence E. Harper, Hutchinson, Kans. Application November 30, 1943, Serial No. 512,382

2 Claims.

The present invention relates to photographic and so-called dark room accessories and appliances and has more particular reference: to a contact printer and photographic paper dispenser in which the preferred structural embodiment is of an invertible and convertible type to serve in one instance as the contact printer and in another instance as a photographic paper holder and dispenser.

More specifically stated, I have perfected a simple and expedient device such as may be unitarily referred to as a suitably loaded cartridge, the construction and design being such as to promote expeditious manual manipulation, whereby to provide a novel and improved photographer's dark room accessory to speed up exposing and printing work,

Constructed for use in conjunction with virtually all types of standard cameras and appli cable to the handling of negatives and paper of varying sizes, the form of the device functioning as the aforementioned contact printer is characterized by a substantially rectangular casing having an exposing sight on one side and a quick operable closure at one end, there being associated with these parts novel and reliable handle equipped means for expedient handling of the negatives and sheets of sensitized paper arranged in said casing.

Other features and advantages willbecome more readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying illustrative drawings.

In the drawings, wherein like numerals are employed to designate like elements and parts throughout the views:

Figure lis a perspective view of a contact printer of portable cartridge style constructed in accordance with the principles of the instant invention.

Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the arrangement depicted in Figure 1 with the hinged slidable closure cap projected to open position.

Figure 3 is a bottom plan view of the assemblage seen in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a view like Figure 2 showing the closing cap in its inner or closed position.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan view of the structure depicted in Figure 4,. v

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the closure cap.

Figure 7 is a central longitudinal sectional view and taken on either of the views disclosed in Figures 1 or 5, respectively Figure 8 is a view at right angle to Figure '7, this being on the plane of the line 88 of Figure 4 looking in the direction of the arrows.

Figure 9 is a perspective view, fragmentary in character, of the handle equipped follower unit.

' cent notched ends of the side walls 15.

Figure 10 is a view illustrating the convertible feature, this showing the device turned up-sidedown and mounted on a base to permit it to function as a paper storage or holding and dispensing structure.

Figure 11 is a horizontal section on the plane of the line llll of Figure 10.

Figure 12 is a perspective view of a cover or lid such as is used. in the arrangement seen in Figure 10.

As evident from the drawings and clear from the introductory portion of the description, the so-called cartridge is invertible and, therefore, convertible from the contact printer disclosed in Figures 1 to 8 to the paper holding and dispensing device disclosed to best advantage in Figure 10. However, and in so far as the structure of the device itself is concerned, that is, disregarding the base or stand seen in Figure 10, it is the same throughout. Or to put it otherwise, the (A) contact printer and (B) the paper holding and dispensing device, are one and the same thing. Consequently, the corresponding elements are indicated by like reference characters to simplify descriptiveness.

The structure may be made from metal, plastic or suitable material. The main part [3 is in the form of a substantially rectangular box or casing the same including a top wall M, a pair of parallel side walls l5 and an intervening as well as connective back wall [6. The bottom is open to provide a sight I! (see Figures 3 and 5). brought out to advantage in Figures 2', 3 and 7, the front end is open. The last-named end facilitates placement of the charge or load of sheets la in place. In practice, the outermost sheet is anegative and the next adjacent sheet with which it is in contact is a sheet of sensitized paper forming the ultimate print. At this point it may be brought out that it is permissible to use a single pair of such sheets, that is, the negative and next adjacent sensitized paper sheet. Or the entire box can be filled with alternate sheets to be used in progressive pairs. Finally, it is possible to employ one negative and a stack of sensitized sheets where duplicates of the same negative are to be printed. These are, however, steps in the use of the device rather than in the construction thereof. It will be observed that the frontal ends of the side walls are notched as at I9 to provide, keepers and to facilitate proper telescoping and closing action of the closure or cap 20. This part 20 comprises a simple lid 2| with a marginal rim 22 and three of the flanges fit telescopically over the top H and the adja- The notches facilitate maintaining the cap frictionally in closedposition as brought out to advantage in Figure '7. The end walls of the closing rim are provided with extensions or limbs 23 and Also as these are slotted to slidably and hingedly engage the headed studs or pins 24. As seen in Figure 6 the lower flange of the rim of the cap is provided with short spurs 25 which are punched through the adjacent ends of the combined negative and paper.

A stationary U-shaped handle 25 is attached centrally to the top H and this is fitted within a: larger U-shaped bail or handle 21, this forming a part of the plunger-like follower unit seen in Figure 9. The follower unit includes a rectangular plate 21a which is adapted to slide within the confines of the walls of the casing (see Figures '7 and 8). This means that the arms of the handle 21 slide through slots in the top [4.

The operation of the contact printer is generally as follows:

After the cartridge or casing is charged or loaded as seen for example in Figure 3, the slotted limb closing cap 20 is pushed inwardly to its closing position. The spur equipped flange or lip coacts with the marginal framing flanges 28 (see Figures and '7) to render the structure ready for use. These flanges serve t define the aforementioned sight IT and also serve to provide lateral marginal ledge means to accommodate and support a negative. By hooking the tips of the fingers around the bight portion of the stationary handle 26,. the corresponding portion of the relatively slidable handle 2'! then adapts itself for cupping in the palm of the hand of the user. Then by squeezing the handles together the follower plate 21a is forced against the paper and the paper is forced against the negative, both being pressed against the retention spur 25 in an obvious manner. This serves to stick the corresponding, ends of the negative and paper together and to hold the sheets during the interval when the printing light is snapped on and the exposure is made. After the exposure has been made for the desired interval or length of time, the pressure on the handles is released. Then the cap is slid out to open position, in which position the film and paper is partly drawn out by the spurs so that it can be readily and bodily removed with the fingers. It is permissible to have the length of the arms or limbs 23 such as to pull the negative and paper completely out. Then the device is ready for the repeat operation.

It is believed that a contact printer unit of this type is susceptible of promoting speed and good workmanship, since the device can be readily handled with ver little practice. It is economical to use and can be produced on a quantity basis at low cost prices. The device is small and compact and, therefore, does not require much storage space in the dark room. Due to the sight and the bordering flanges on the casing and cap, all of the pictures have a uniform and marginal border.

By turning the device up-side-down and converting it for use as a paper holder as seen in Figure 10, it is necessary to provide a suitable base or support. comprises a base 29 with grooved uprights or brackets 36 which slidably receive the limb or leg portions of the handle 21. This positions the follower plate 21:: in a stationary position, whereupon the box then forms a sliding frame. The box is loaded with paper, that is, photographic paper. for storage and convenient use. The weight of-the box keeps the paper flat and stacked on the follower plate which then serves as a base for said paper. In this arrangement it is desirable to provide a cover or lid 3i, this The arrangement here seen having a marginal flange 32 to fit down over the box and to close the otherwise open sight l1. Consequently, a satisfactory protective enclosure and storage and dispensing box for photographic 7 paper is thus provided.

It is thought that persons skilled in the art to which the invention relates will be able to obtain a clear understanding of the invention after considering the description in connection with the drawings. Therefore, a more lengthy description is regarded as unnecessary.

Minor changes in the shape, size and arrangement of details coming within the field of invention claimed may be resorted to in actual practice, if desired.

Having described the claimed as new is:

l. A portable manually manipulated contact printer of the class described comprising a rectangular box open on one main side and also open at one end, said open side being marginally bounded by relatively narrow laterally disposed and fixed flanges defining ledge means and a sight for exposure purposes, the ledge means serving to support and properly maintain a negative in position in the box, a slidable backing and follower plate in said box, a bail-like handle slidably mounted in the box and connected with said follower plate, a stationary handle mounted on the box, said handles being nested one within the other to permit them to be squeezed together and to thus readily operate said follower plate, a cap for closing the open end of said box, slotted arms extending from and connected with said cap, pins carried by side walls of the box adjacent said open end, said pins passing through the slots in said arms to guide the sliding movements of the cap toward and from the open end of the box, and spurs carried by said cap for penetrating sheets in the box and withdrawing sheets from the box as the cap is shifted away from the open end of the box.

2. A portable manually manipulated contact printer of the class described comprising a rectangular box open on one main side and also open at one end, said open side being marginally bounded by relatively narrow laterally disposed and fixed flanges defining ledge means and a sight for exposure purposes, the ledge means serving to support and properly maintain a negative in position in the box, a slidable backing and follower plate in said box, a bail-like handle slidably mounted in the box and connected with said follower plate, a stationary handle mounted on the box, said handles being nested one within the other to permit them to be squeezed together and to thus readily operate said follower plate, a cap for closing the open end of said box, slotted arms extending from and connected with said cap, pins carried by side walls of the box adjacent said open end, said pins passing through the slots in said arms to guide the sliding movements of the cap toward and from the open end of the box, and spurs carried by said cap for penetrating sheets in the box and withdrawing sheets from the box as the cap is shifted away from the open end of the box, said cap being provided with an endless marginal flange to telescope over the open end of said box, aid spurs being carried by and projecting inwardly from the flange, and said spurs moving out of engagement with said sheets when the cap is swung downwardly after having been shifted away from the open end of the box.

invention, what is CLARENCE E. HARPER. 

